Here are answers to seven common questions about the law that's expected to change shopper habits starting next spring.

Who is included as a retailer?

The city's definition of a retailer in this ordinance means any person selling, leasing or renting tangible personal property or services at retail that provides disposable bags to customers. This includes charitable organizations or government entities that sell tangible goods to the public.

Basically, that's most businesses that sell something you can hold in a bag.

However, there are some exclusions. Retailers, in this case, do not include temporary vendors at farmers markets, garage sales and other temporary events or any restaurant defined in the city's Land Use Code.

Retailers must get consent from customers to charge for a bag. What does this mean?

Under the ordinance, retailers must make sure customers understand there is a charge for each disposable bag and agree to that charge in order to purchase the bag.

Which disposable bags will be part of this fee?

Bags that will cost customers 5 cents will be the disposable bags provided at the store's checkout stand or cash register.

This excludes bags used by consumers before the point of sale — including those used to package produce, nuts or candy; wrap flowers or potted plants; and contain frozen foods, meat or bakery goods.

Included in this, bags used to protect an item from damaging or contaminating another item when placed in a reusable bag will remain free, as will newspaper bags, door-hanger bags, dry cleaning bags and bags provided by pharmacists for prescription drugs.

Scroll down to read the full ordinance. Mobile app users, visit http://noconow.co/bagfeeFAQ to view the document.

Are there any exemptions to who is charged for a bag?

Yes, a retailer that participates in federal or state food assistance programs can give a disposable bag to customers who provide proof they are part of such a program.

Where does the fee go?

Any money collected for the bag charge is retained by the retailer. Unlike a previously proposed ordinance, there is no stipulation requiring retailers to put a portion of their bag fee revenue toward providing reusable bags to customers and outreach about the program.

How will this be enforced?

Retailers will be asked to record the bag fee and the number of disposable bags provided on customers' receipts. They should maintain such books, accounts, invoices and documents necessary to verify the implementation of the charge, the ordinance says.

The retailer should keep and preserve those records for three years and make them available during any inspection or audit by the city. Those records will be treated as "confidential commercial information."

When will this take effect and what will happen until then?

The bag fee is set to be implemented on April 1, 2015. Though a timeline has yet to be determined, Mayor Karen Weitkunat said city outreach to nonprofits, namely food banks, will happen. The city also will begin taking measures to reduce its own usage of disposable bags, as stated in the ordinance, Weitkunat said.